| Abstract: | A study dealing with the uptake of zinc-65 by different segments of the epididymis and vas deferens of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) in the presence or absence of spermatozoa is reported. It was determined that zinc-65 uptake by the vas deferens of the control side was significantly higher than that of the epididymal segments (vas deferens vs. caput, proximal and distal corpus, or cauda, p less than .01). Amon g the epididymal segments themselves there was no significant difference . Efferent duct ligation consistently reduced the uptake of zinc-65 in all portions of the epididymis and vas deferens (control vs. ligated: caput, corpus, cauda, and vas, p less than .01). The percentage reduction in the uptake by different segments of the epididymis and vas remained virtually constant in the ligated side (caput, 57%; proximal corpus, 53%; distal corpus, 64%; cauda, 55%; vas deferens, 55%). Nevertheless, zinc-65 uptake by vas continued to be significantly greater than that of the epididymis. It is noted that the reduced zinc-65 accumulated on the ligated side could at least be partly due to absence of spermatozoa. It is further suggested that the lowered uptake of zinc-65 by the epididymis and vas deferens following efferent duct ligation in the monkey may be also due to a local androgen deficiency. |
